Small Ways to Enact Big Change
The protests have started to die down. Unsure what to do now and how to keep the momentum going? We’re right there with you.
In our last Her Flowers session, we talked about different ways for teens to mobilize their knowledge into action.
Instead of looking at ALL the things we should or could be doing, we decided to break our possible actions into categories before coming up with activities for each one. Breaking large problems down into smaller, actionable changes makes all the difference!
Trying to change EVERYTHING on your own isn’t realistic or sustainable. Yes, you can be engaged and informed about what’s going on...but that doesn’t mean you need to show up for all of it. Pick one or two things that you feel passionate about. Show up. Get excited. And then keep showing up.
5 Strategies to Sustain Action:
Listen and Learn
What can you watch, listen to, or read? Pick 2-3 things and take a deep dive. Perhaps you choose to watch one Ted Talk a week and then discuss it with family and friends. Repost that talk on your social media feed or send it out to your teachers. If you disagree with some of the points it raised, work to understand why you disagreed so that you can continue to learn and grow. Below are some Ted Talks and books the Her Flower teens enjoyed.
Ted talks
Books
Created by Her Flower group members #forteensbyteens
Talk
We understand and process the world around us through speech and dialogue. Having conversations, even if you mess up, helps you grow. Learn from others with different viewpoints and then share your own with others. There are tons of ways you can engage with other, including:
Talking with friends
Talking with family members
Reposting important news on Instagram and engaging in conversation. Don’t just block or unfollow those with different viewpoints. Instead, start conversations with them to understand their perspective and perhaps point them (gently) in a different direction.
Organize
This doesn’t mean organizing a 10,000 person protest. This means organizing within your community, using the resources you have at your disposal to facilitate change.
Organize a fundraiser. Are you really good at making friendship bracelets? Or baking cookies? What about drawing? Collaborate with friends and find a way to raise money for an organization you want to support. Include personalized notes of gratitude for each potential sponsor. The most important thing here is the follow-through. Start small and work your way toward
Support
Think of big and small ways you can support others. This goes way beyond monetary support–– you’ve been learning how to support others all your life, so let that be your guide. Be kind. Don’t judge. Accept apologies when necessary and realize that people make mistakes.
Help friends when they have questions
Don’t shame others for asking questions
Become a resource for when your friends need help
Monitor
You don’t have to be an expert on everything. You don’t have to know the ins-and-outs of misogyny, the death penalty, predatory military recruitment, cultural appropriation, climate change, mental health, and so on (phew, that’s a lot!). Sure, they all intersect and are connected, but learning a little bit about all of them will only overwhelm rather than empower. Pick one topic to dive deep on and follow that for 4-6 weeks. Here’s how:
Choose your news wisely. Make sure you’re getting news from a source you can trust and understand.
Follow reputable Instagram accounts.
Keep an eye out for negative images, specifically how things are being told about a certain topic. If you’re comfortable, approach those people that may be misinformed and explain to them how they’re spreading false information.
Keep track of petitions you can sign related to a certain issue. Spread those with your friends and monitor their progress.
Track legislation. Connect with your local politicians! Find out which elected officials are passionate about similar issues as you. Support their legislation and attempt to understand the intricacies of government.
Conclusion
Give yourself space. Take time to take care of yourself and experience joy. The world is full of both beauty and pain, darkness and light. Be intentional with how you spend your time! These efforts need to be sustainable, and spending all your time taking on all the world’s problems of will lead to burnout.
Remember, you’re only human.